CANUCKS		CHICKENHAWKS
	AT

The Canucks will have to play better in Game 3 than they did in Game 2 in order to take a stranglehold on the series. (Isn't it exciting that we are already talking stranglehold possibility?) While the forwards did an excellent job continually pushing after the Hawks would make it a 1-goal game and getting their 2 goal leads back in the face of adversity there were bad habits from Luongo and the defence in front of him that are unacceptable.

The Canucks now enter the Mad House on Madison where the Hawks are going to push even harder to avoid a 3-0 series deficit. When are their top players going to get on the scoresheet? 1 assist combined from Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp in this series is shocking. The Canucks would like to keep it that way. No need to get those guys rolling. The checking on those guys has been superb. They are getting smothered and smoked in this series. However, we now know who Ben Smith is.

The Canucks were the top NHL team at home AND on the road this season. Let's see if they can become road warriors in the playoffs.

The refs are really letting these 2 teams play. I am shocked at how few penalties have been called. Then I watch any other series and it's the opposite. Of course, the last thing I want to see here is a bunch of penalties. The 5 on 5 battle is most excellent.

LINKS

• Torres draws in, coach not sure about Samuelsson though (The Province)
• Frustration mounting over the futility of the Hawks' top line (Chicago Tribune)
• Kesler scoring less but loving shutting down the Hawks' top players (TSN)
• The Green Men exposed (Vancouver Sun)
• Kane no longer able to play with the Blackhawks.... (Onion Sports Network) h/t patrick e

FORWARD LINES

CANUCKS

Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alex Burrows

Chris Higgins-Ryan Kesler-Mikael Samuelsson

Raffi Torres-Mason Raymond-Jannik Hansen

Tanner Glass-Maxim Lapierre-Victor Oreskovich

BLACKHAWKS

Patrick Sharp-Jonathan Toews-Mary Hossa

Ben Smith-Michael Frolik-Patrick Kane

Viktor Stalberg-Jake Dowell-Troy Brouwer

John Scott-Balls-Tomas Kopecky(?) Fernando Pisani

STARTING GOALTENDERS

Roberto Luongo

#1 / Goalie / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-3

Weight: 217

Born: Apr 04, 1979

Profile: Ass-kicker, destroyer of dreams, Hawk-hater

Corey Crawford

#50 / Goalie / Chicago Blackhawks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 200

Born: Dec 31, 1984

Profile: Playoff virgin, virgin,  fear of Orcas

WHO IS HOT / COLD

CANUCKS

HOT

-Daniel Sedin:  2 goals and 5 assists in his last 4 games

-Ryan Kesler: 4 goals and 2 assist in his last 4

-Jannik Hansen: 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 4. A hero emerges!

COLD

-Maxim Lapierre: 1 goal in his last 27.

-Sami Salo: 1 assist in his last 15 games

-Mason Raymond: 0 points in his last 3.

-Jeff Tambellini: 0 points in his last 25. Go away. GONE

BLACKHAWKS

HOT

-Patrick Kane: 4 assists in his last 4 games.

-Ben Smith: 2 goals in game 2.

COLD

-Jake Dowell: 1 assist in his last 16

-Tomas Kopecky: 1 goal in his last 10.

-Johnathan Toews: 1 goal in his last 9. It's still just a matter of time..right?

-Chris Campoli: 1 assist in his last 7.

-F*ck off, Pisani

INJURIES

CANUCKS

-F Manny Malhotra: eye, out for playoffs

-F Mikael Samuelsson: illness (questionable for Game 3). I hope it's not actually his hip flexor problem

BLACKHAWKS

-D Jordan Hendry: left knee surgery

-F David Bolland: concussion (Still feeling effects=not good news for ChiTown-doubtful for Game 3)

-F Tomas Kopecky: upper body, (doubtful for Game 3)

-F Bryan Bickell: wrist, to be evaluated Sunday

VIDEO

Highlights from Game 2

The Alex Edler hit on Kane has not found it's way onto YouTube but if you watch the beginning of this clip:

BAWANGO!! Is that the first time a Canuck has destroyed him lack that? Lovely. Kane was timid for quite a while afterwards. Any time he sees Edler coming now you know he'll cower.

your day has finally come -
so wear the hat and do the dance
and let the suit keep wearing you.

this year you'll sit and take it
And you will like it -
It's the gentle art of making enemies

FAITH NO MORE- Gentle Art Of Making Enemies:

Canucks watch intently as Chicago's playoff hopes go up in smoke. Just kidding, it's only 2 games in. But here's hoping!